Rail fissure detector



Jan. 26, 1937. H c DRAKE RAIL FISSURE DETECTOR Original Filed March 18, 1950 Zhwentor Hamwri Quake Patented Jan. 26, 1937 nan. r'rssune ns'rec'ron Harcourt 0. Brake, Heinpstead, n. in, assignor to Sperry Products, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y, a corporation of New York Original application March 18, 1930, Serial No. 436,660, now Patent No. 1,912,569, dated June Divided and this application Febrnas! 4, 1933, Serial No. 655,223

12 Claim.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 436,660, flied March 18, 1930, which has matured into Patent No. 1,912,569, granted June 6, 1933.

This invention relates to improvements in rail fissure detectors the type adapted to be mounted on a moving car. a

More specifically it is one object of this invention to insure operation of the paint gun which is employed for marking the spot on a rail where a fissure occurs. It has been found in practice that the very short energization of the detecting mechanism caused by the relatively rapid movement of the detector mechanism over a. fissure was sometimes insuiiicient to actuate the paint gun operating mechanism. By my invention such operation is insured.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means for preventing operation of the paint 0 gun when the detector mechanism passes over the rail joints. I accomplish this function without preventing actuation of the usual recorder on the recording chart for indicating rail joints. For this purpose I employ a mechanical means designed to engage the angle bar which connects the rails at the joints. I provide means also for insuring that the paint gun will not be operated until the recording mechanism has passed completely beyond the said angle bar.

Heretofore the paint gun has been mounted on the car body and this has resulted in the wiping off of the gun by obstructions in the path of travel of the car. By my invention I propose to mount the paint gun on the contact brush holder which is lifted to a protected inoperative position when obstructions are met.

It is a further object of my invention to mount the paint gun sufiiciently behind the detector brushes to compensate for the speed of the car and the time lag of the paint gun operating mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description:

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a Sperry detector car, showing generally the location of the principal elements of the detector mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, partly sectioned vertically, of a portion of the contact brush hold- 'er and detector mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a. diagrammatic view disclosing the means for preventing operation of the paint gun when the detector mechanism passes over rail joints.

Figure 4 is an end view of the brush holder showing the joint cut-out finger- I Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a Sperry rail detector car "I having a contactbrush car-. riage or holder H and a detector sled I2 support- 5 ed on said holder I l. The contact brushes l3-ll carried by the contact brush holder II are designed to lead high amperage current into. the rail and the coils in the detector sled are designed to pick up any variations in flux caused by flaws and transmit the same through an amplifier to a recording mechanism as disclosed in the patent of Elmer A. Sperry, No. 1,820,505 granted August 25, 1931. The amplifying means is also designed to energize a mechanism for operating a paint gun l5 for squirting paint upon the rail at the point where a flaw or fissure is detected by the detector mechanism. To insure operation of the paint gun l5 when passing over a rail flaw or fissure,-I provide the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 3. The normal paint gun operating mechanism is shown as comprising an electro-magnet 20' energized from the amplifying system, said magnet attracting its armature 2! to close a set of contacts 22, to close a circuit extending from the plus sign through magnet 23, contacts 22, contacts 44, to the minus sign thus energizing electromagnet 23 which attracts its armature 24 to actuate a recording pen carried thereby. The closing of contacts 22 also energizes electro-magnet 25, in parallel with the circuit just traced, which attracts its armature 26 to close the circuit through electro-magnet 21, which then attracts its armature 28 to close contacts 29. This permits full voltage from a main supply source of H0 volts to be applied to an electro-magnet 30 which attracts its armature 3| to operate a valve 32 to permit air pressure to pass into pipe 33 and discharge paint from gun l5 on the track.

In order to insure operation of the paint gun when passing over a flaw, I provide an additional winding 25' which is energized at the same time as winding 25. When the detector mechanism has passed over the flaw and contacts 22 open to deenergize coil 25, coil 25 will still be energized because it will be seen that it has an independent circuit extending through armature 26, contacts 26 and the conductor 50 to the negative side of the line. Once coils 25 and 25' are energized, therefore, coil 25' will hold the armature 26, even though contacts 22 open to maintain the circuit through coils 21 and 30 until armature 28 has been fully drawn down to open contacts 29' and thus break the circuit through electro-magnet 25'. The full movement of ar- 5 v if?" series with magnet 2-1; then opening of contacts, 3 29' would cause deenergization of the magnet 21, release of armature 28 and closing of contacts 29. ly as contacts 29 owing to the lag in deenergizing magnet and releasing armature 26. So that contacts 29 will have closed again before con.-

tacts 26' have opened, an dfif contacts'29 -and magnet 21 were connected in series, the magnet 21 would again be energized and thus set up. a Y chattering of armature 2 8. ,But by connecting contacts 29' in a parallel circuit,'opening of said contacts does not deenergize magnet 21 until contacts 26 are opened, and chattering of armature 28 is thus prevented.

Referring toFigs. 3, and 4, I have disclosed also a means for preventingoperation of the said paint gun l5 when the detector mechanism passes over a rail joint, since obviously magnetic flux variation, due to a, railjoint, would tend to operate the paintgun operating mechanism in the same manner as a flaw or fissure Within the rail. For this purpose I provide a lever; 40 mechanically pivoted on holder at 39 so supported as to engage the angle bar '3 at the side of the rail and connecting the two rails at the joint. As lever 40 engages the angle bar it closes a set of contacts 4| tov energize coils 42and 43 to opencontacts 44 and close contacts 45. The opening of contacts 44 prevents energization of electro-magnet 25 and 25' and hence of the circuit through magnet 21 and magnet 30, while the closing of contacts 45 closes the circuit through electro-magnet 5| to actuate the armature 52 which operates the joint recording pen on the chart. The opening of contacts 44 serves also to break the circuit through coil 23 so that the fissure-recording pen will not be actuated when the detector passes over a rail-joint.

Since the lever 40 would normally disengage the angle bar before thedetector sled has passed beyondthe rail joint, I provide a second lever 40' so positioned with respect to lever 40 that it will engage the angle bar before lever 40 has left the bar to close a set of contacts 4 l in parallel with contacts 4i to perform the same function and continue the action of contacts 4| in preventing operation of the paint gun l5 until the detector sled has passed entirely beyond the rail joint. a 5

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be observed that I have mounted the paint gun i5 on the contact brush holder l i so thatit will be raised and lowered together withusaid holder. paint gun was mounted on the car body and was frequently wiped-off by obstructions at theside of the path of travel of the car. By the construction shown in Fig. 2, this is impossible and the paint gun is, at all times maintained in a. safe position.

Referring to the same Fig. 2, it-will be observed that the paint gun I5 is mounted a certain distance behind the detector sled l2. This distance is so proportioned that the speed of the carand the lag in operation of the-paint gun operating mechanism will be compensated for by the dis;-

tance which the paintgun [5 must travel before reaching the flaw picked up by the sled l2.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent 'statutes, I have herein described the principle The contacts 26' do not open as quick- Heretofore the it understood that the apparatus shown, is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed touse the various featuresand elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined; and the invention extends to such use.

dicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw adapted to actuate said indicating mechanism,

said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints, and means whereby said second responsive means renders said flaw indicating means ineifective while the first I Having describedmy invention, what I claim I responsive means is in a position to be affected by a rail joint.

2. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw adantedto actuate saidindicating mechamsm, said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to joints, a'second means responsive to said rail joints, and means whereby said second responsive means renders said flaw indicating means ineifective, said second responsive means being so positioned relative to said flaw responsive means as to render said flaw indicating mechanism ineffective while said flaw responsive means is passing over a rail joint.

3. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw adapted to actuate said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints, said last-named means including means for mechanically engaging said rail joints while said fiaw responsive means passes over said joints, and means whereby said mechanical engagement renders said flaw indicating mechanism inefiective.

4. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw adapted to actuate said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints including angle bars, said flaw responsive means responding also to rail joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints, said last-named means including means for mechanically engaging said angle bars while said flaws res'ponsive means passes over said joints, and means whereby said mechanical engagement renders said flaw indicating means inefiective.

5. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw and means including an .electric circuit whereby said flaw responsive means actuates said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to rail joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints, and means whereby said second means renders said circuit ineffective while the first responsive means is in a position to be affected by a rail joint,

6. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indieating mechanism, means responsive to flaw and means including an electric circuit whereby said flaw responsive means actuates said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to rail joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints, and means whereby said second means renders said circuit inefiective, said second responsive means being so positioned relative to said flaw responsive means as to render said circuit inefiective while said flaw responsive means is passing over a rafl joint.

7. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw and means including an electric circuit whereby said flaw responsive means actuates said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to rail joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints, said last-named means including means for mechanically engaging said rail joints while said flaw responsive means passes over said joints,

and means whereby said mechanical engagement renders said circuit ineffective.

8. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw and means including an electric circuit whereby said flaw responsive means actuates said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, including angle bars, said flaw responsive means responding also to rail joints, a second means responsive to rail joints, said last-named means including means for mechanically engaging said angle bars while said fiaw responsive means passes over said joints, and means whereby said mechanical engagement renders said circuit ineffective.

9. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsivei to flaw and means including an electric circuit whereby said flaw responsive means actuates said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, including angle bars, said flaw responsive means responding also to rail joints, a second means responsive to rail joints, said last-named means including a pair of spaced levers adapted to engage said angle bars successively for a period commencing before said flaw responsive means reaches said joint and continuing until said flaw r sponsive means passes beyond said joint, and

-eans whereby said engagement renders said circult ineffective.

10. In a device adapted to move over the rails .for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw advance of said flaw responsive means, means whereby said second responsive means when in cooperative relation with a rail joint renders said flaw indicating means ineffective, and means for maintaining said flaw indicating means ineffective after said second responsive means has passed out of cooperative relation with the respective rail joint and until said flaw responsive means has passed beyond said rail joint.

11. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism,- means responsive to flaw adapted, to actuate said indicating mechanism,- said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to joints, a second means responsive tosaid rail joints and positioned in advance of said flaw responsive means, means whereby said second responsive means when in cooperative relation with a rail joint renders said flaw indicating means ineffective, and means for maintaining said flaw indicating means ineffective after said second responsive means has passed out of cooperative relation with the respective rail joint and until said flaw responsive means has passed beyond said rail joint, said last named means comprising a third means responsive to said rail joints and positioned so as to move into cooperative relation with the respective rail joint as said second responsive means moves out of cooperative relation therewith and means whereby said third responsive means renders said indicating means ineffective when in cooperative relation with a rail joint.

12. In a device adapted to move over the rails for detecting rail flaws, in combination, flaw indicating mechanism, means responsive to flaw adapted to actuate said indicating mechanism, said rails having joints, said flaw responsive means responding also to joints, a second means responsive to said rail joints and positioned in advance of said flaw responsive means, means whereby said second responsive means when in cooperative relation with a rail joint renders said flaw indicating means inefiective, and means for maintaining said flaw indicating means ineffective after said second responsive means has passed out of cooperative relation with the respective rail joint and until said flaw responsive means has passed beyond said rail joint, said last-named means comprising a third means responsive to said rail joints, said third responsive means being positioned to the rear of said flaw responsive means and so positioned relative to said second responsive means as to move into cooperative relation with the respective rail joint as said second responsive moves out of cooperative relation therewith and means whereby said third responsive means renders said indicating means inefiective when in cooperative relation with a rail joint.

HARCOURT C. DRAKE. 

